Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 25 2021 (ZIZ News) Performers and contestants in the 2020/2021 Sugar Mas celebrations will be rewarded for their accomplishments during the official virtual Sugar Mas Prize Giving ceremony on Wednesday.
Chair of the National Carnival Committee, Shannon Hawley said due to the pandemic they’ve had to do things differently this year so the ceremony will be virtual. She went on to explain what viewers can expect.
Miss Hawley said as part of the ceremony they will be recognizing and honouring persons who have been longstanding contributors to Carnival over the years.
She said the ceremony will also serve to give a taste of what’s coming in Sugar Mas 50.
The Sugar Mas virtual Prize giving ceremony will also feature performances by Senior Calypso Monarch Queeney G, Lala, and Panorma Champions EBJ Harmonics.
The ceremony begins at 7:30 pm and will be broadcast live on ZIZ’s social media pages.
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 11th, 2020 (ZIZ News) With plans to revive the pageants for Sugar Mas 50 later this year the National Carnival Committee has already started the selection process for participants.
In an interview with ZIZ News, Carnival Committee Chair, Shannon Hawley said the response so far has been very strong and they plan to reveal the contestants by March.
She said the early reveal allows the public to familiarize themselves with the contestants and support them on their journey to the crown.
Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic National Carnival for 2020 had to be restructured with the removal of the pageants.
Miss Hawley said this year they plan to reinstate both the National Carnival Queen pageant and the Swimsuit Pageant.
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 24th, 2020 (ZIZ News) A speedy recovery and well wishes have been extended to veteran calypsonian and finalist for the sugar mas 49 calypso competition Davron Liburd, known in the calypso arena as Lord Kut
ZIZ understands that Lord Kut has fallen ill and is currently hospitalized.
Speaking on the most recent edition of Sugar Fix with Clement Monarch O’Garro on ZIZ Radio on Wednesday, Chair of the National Carnival Committee Shannon Hawley said it is hoped that Lord Kut will be able to participate in the Calypso finals next Tuesday.
Lord Kut’s calypso career spans four decades as he begin singing in 1973.
Lord Kut advanced to the finals of the Sugar Mas 49 Calypso competition with his song Dr. How you get it do?”
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 27th, 2020 (ZIZ News) Chair of the Carnival Committee Shannon Hawley has described the first ever A Taste of J’ouvert event as a success.
Held early Saturday morning “A Taste of J’ouvert” aimed to bring the J’ouvert energy and music through a virtual experience with a limited audience of 150 persons.
In an interview with ZIZ News Miss Hawley said the online response was “amazing”
Miss Hawley also commended the performers who have stepped up their game not only during a Taste of J’ouvert but throughout the virtual events of Sugar Mas 49.
She said after the Calypso Monarch Finals on Tuesday they are going to keep the excitement going with an announcement about Sugar Mas 50.
Describing the virtual productions as truly a taste of what St. Kitts and Nevis carnival has to offer Miss Hawley said this year they have put the federation in the spotlight in a Covid-19 world showing what we can do while still ensuring the safety of our people.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 19th , 2020 (ZIZ News): The National Carnival Committee has announced that the Commissioner of Police has granted permission to host a limited live audience for the Calypso Tents Virtual Series.
The Tents will continue this Saturday 21st November, at 8pm at Carnival Village featuring 15 Calypsonians from Proud Sounds Calypso Tent.
The Series will be streamed on the Skn Carnival’s Facebook and YouTube pages as well as ZIZ Radio and Television.
According to a statement strict covid-19 protocol will be in place at Carnival Village and patrons will not be allowed entry without masks.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 17th , 2020 (ZIZ News): The National Carnival Committee is planning to bring back Panorama as part of the Sugar Mas 49 celebrations.
In an interview with ZIZ News, Carnival Chair Shannon Hawley said the staging of a re-imagined Carnival under Covid-19 guidelines has given them the chance to tap into the more traditional cultural, and folklore aspects of Carnival.
As such Miss Hawley said they are looking to bring back Panorama and make it a big event.
Cue in: “The Panorama is going to be approximately 8 steel bands from St. Kitts and Nevis. And I think that again, bringing back steel band…last year, the Panorama was not well-received, in that there was only just one band performing for various reasons. So we’re bringing back Panorama on a large scale and I think that is going to warm the hearts of many people, especially during the festive period,” she said.
Miss Hawley said she’s hoping that the Committee will be allowed to host a small live audience under Covid-19 guidelines.
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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, November 13, 2020 (DBSKN) — The National Carnival Committee has come in for high praise for ensuring members of the public that even in the face of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Sugar Mas 49 will still be celebrated albeit in a shortened form.
“Our culture is dynamic and over the years we at the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis have partnered with the National Carnival Committee in the celebration and preservation of our culture through the staging of Sugar Mas, and this year is no exception,” said the Bank’s Marketing and Product Development Officer, Ms Chantelle Rochester.
The Development Bank official made the remarks on Monday November 9 when she presented the Bank’s cheque of $30,000 for the premium-gold sponsorship of Sugar Mas 49 to the Chairperson of National Carnival Committee, Ms Shannon Hawley, at the Bank’s head office in Basseterre.
“As we are faced with the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Carnival Committee has come out with an innovative way of celebrating Sugar Mas 49 which will not only ensure that people at home don’t miss much of what they are used to, but will also allow our relatives and friends overseas to partake in the celebration as it will be held virtually,” said Ms Rochester.
In receiving the sponsorship cheque, Ms Shannon Hawley noted that the St. Kitts and Nevis National Carnival Committee has had a longstanding relationship with the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“We have been able to call on the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis through good times and through bad times, and especially this year we fear that as there are so many challenges we anticipate that there be many cutbacks in sponsorship,” said the National Carnival Committee Chairperson.
She added: “We ourselves as the National Carnival Committee have had to cut back on many events including pageants, and parades. So we are more than grateful for the contribution and continued support of the Development Bank especially during these challenging times.”
According to Ms Hawley, there will be a virtual opening of Sugar Mas on Friday December 11, which she advised “will be something that you have never seen before. It will highlight a lot of not only past winners, but we are doing a tribute to Sugar Mas St. Kitts and Nevis related music. So you will hear the likes of from Ellie Matt to 869 Area Code. You will see a series of various artistes, young artistes performing these very popular tunes during the opening of Carnival in addition to folklore etc.”
Two new events, National Carnival Creative Arts competition and a Sugarscope Photography Competition, have been introduced. The National Carnival Creative Arts under the theme ‘Covid-19 and Carnival’ which is encouraging youth between six and seventeen to take part, was launched on Monday, while the Sugar-scope Photography Competition which will allow the general public to see Sugar Mas through the eyes of the photographer will be launched on Monday November 16.
“Those are the two new initiatives by the Carnival Committee that will take place in November,” said Ms Hawley. “Then of course we have our Calypso tents and we know that Development Bank is the Platinum sponsor for the Legends Calypso Tent, and these tents will be streamed live through National Carnival Facebook page, our YouTube channel, and on ZIZ Radio and Television.”
Calypso Tents will be held as follows: Legends Calypso Tent on Saturday November 14; Proud Sounds on Saturday November 21; Legends Calypso Tent on Saturday November 28; and Proud Sounds on Saturday December 5. All events will start at 8:00 pm.
]]>In the face of the covid-19 pandemic The Senior Calypso Monarch competition will be undergoing some changes this year.
That’s according to Chair of the National Carnival Committee, Shannon Hawley.
In an interview with ZIZ Miss Hawley said instead of tents being held at various locations as in the past, this year the Carnival Committee is producing a virtual tent series, beginning this weekend.
“We felt that in the face of Covid, and with discussions with the authorities it would have been safer for the National Carnival Committee to take on the responsibility for the specific tents. So that is what we’re doing,” she said. “The tents are going to be produced on a weekly basis. So this Saturday we have Legends, then on the 21st we have proud sounds, 28th Legends, and the 5th of December Proud Sounds. So there are four tents in this virtual tent series.”
She said the tents will be much more than just calypsonians in front of a camera and will offer unique elements of production.
“We have a huge set design, which I can’t say too much about, but we’re going to try to incorporate individuals at home in that set,” she said. “We’re going to try to make you feel as festive as possible. There’s a lot to sing about in 2020.”
Regarding the Calypso competition itself Miss Hawley said they are removing the semi-finals segment. “Sixteen calypsonians will move from the quarter-finals into the finals, singing one song (each). Rather than 8 calypsonians singing two songs. So you’ll have a total of 16 calypsonians in the finals, and that will be at the end of December,” she said.
43 Calypsonians are expected to be performing across the various tents over the coming weeks.
The tents will be carried live on ZIZ TV and radio and will be streamed on the Carnival Committee’s Facebook and Youtube channels at 8pm each night.
(ZIZ News)
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 2nd , 2020 (ZIZ News):
By: Chaïra Flanders
All pageants, the extremely popular J’ouvert street jam, grand parade and las lap celebrations have been cancelled for this year’s Sugar Mas 49 festivities.
This was announced by Minister of Culture, Hon. Jonel Powell who was at the time delivering an address to the nation via the St. Kitts-Nevis National Carnival Committee (SKNNCC) Facebook page on the morning of Friday October 2 2020.
He said both Cabinet and the committee approved the decision to cancel all traditional Carnival events ahead of Sugar Mas 49 celebrations in December 2020.
Minister Powell said the decision was made in consideration of the health and safety of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis as the federation grapples with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Powell said in order to accommodate patrons during this challenging time, creative virtual events will be held to highlight and celebrate the culture of our people.
“Our National Carnival was established with the aim of highlighting our arts, music and folklore and in so doing, uniting our people. As such, the committee along with its partners, intends to create virtual events that are new and creative as well as scale back activities for the end of year celebration”, Powell explained.
“This new virtual format will allow the St. Kitts-Nevis National Carnival Committee to showcase our unique Carnival product to our citizens and residents and a more diverse and wide-ranging global audience”, he said.
He added that a Sugar Mas 49 Calendar of events will be released shortly.
The Minister said the committee is pledging its fullest support to the national COVID-19 Taskforce, the police and healthcare workers who have established protocols to protect residents and citizens from the Novel Coronavirus.
He said the Ministry of Culture and the National Carnival Committee look forward to presenting Sugar Mas 49 in its new format to Carnival lovers, locally, regionally and internationally.
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